Sports Blog 12/02/2016: Match Preview – Premier League, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th February 2016

Arguably the most important weekend of the season so far, the top four all play each other in what could either cement or disrupt the Premier League’s bizarre new world order.

Firstly, however, fans will have to endure a rather less Saturday, starting with a trip to Sunderland for Manchester United at 12.45pm on BT Sport 1. The Black Cats will be hoping the focus on Adam Johnson’s mid-week dismissal won’t be too distracting, heading into the weekend only 4 points ahead of Aston Villa in 19th place despite their last gasp draw against Liverpool (partly thanks to the departed Johnson) last Saturday. Getting anything against United will be a bonus for Big Sam, especially with Villa’s gradually improving form threatening to leave Sunderland in last place.



Stuck 6 points adrift of 4th place Manchester City Louis van Gaal’s side are equally in need of a win, even if the reasons couldn’t be further from Sunderland’s. Their performance against Chelsea last Sunday continued to suggest a 2016 turnaround for United, a turnaround that has seen a solitary loss in 8 games all competitions. Yet for all their improvement they still only took a point from the Blues, a late lapse allowing Costa to score an injury time equaliser. Last time these two sides met United put in one of their more comprehensive performances of the season, winning 3-0; this time around, however, things might be slightly tighter, Spreadex offering a Manchester United/Sunderland (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.65-0.85 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.4-2.6.

Saturday afternoon’s game is almost equally as unexciting as the earlier start, with Chelsea hosting Newcastle at 5.30pm on Sky Sports 1. Whilst still technically unbeaten under Guus Hiddink the Blues haven’t seen the revolution their season desperately needs, last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to United leaving Chelsea with 6 draws in the 9 league games since the Dutchman took over. They’ve also only managed 2 goals in their last 3 league appearance (both from a somewhat revitalised Diego Costa), Chelsea only able to find their swagger against the Championship and League One sides they have faced so far in the FA Cup.



It will be interesting to see which Newcastle turns up on Sunday; the side that held Manchester United to a 3-3 draw and beat West Ham 2-1, or the side whose form has left them 1 point above 18th place Norwich. Most recently the former Toon turned up (just), Steve McClaren’s side narrowly besting West Brom 1-0 to escape the relegation zone. Our Spreadex traders, however, thinks the latter team will make an appearance against the Blues, offering a Chelsea/Newcastle Goal Supremacy spread of 1.25-1.45 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.9-3.1.

Sunday then sees the real juicy meat of the weekend, as Leicester look to hold onto their lead at the top of the table with a victory over Arsenal at 12pm on Sky Sports 1. Last Saturday saw the Foxes get their best result of the season, and perhaps their entire history, a thrilling 3-1 win over Manchester City that leaves Leicester with a 5 point gap at the top. This was meant to be the side’s toughest period, when they were supposed to crack; instead they are unbeaten in 7 league games, their last 2 victories over Liverpool and City respectively. The most astonishing part of that momentous day at the Etihad was that top scorer Jamie Vardy (at a Player Goal Minutes spread of 17-20) didn’t even score!



Arsenal will have to learn from City’s mistakes, and ignore their earlier in the season 5-2 demolition of the Foxes, if they are to get a much needed win on Sunday. A fairly confident 2-0 victory over Bournemouth last Sunday saw them end a 3 league game goalless streak, a streak, however, that has allowed their bitter North London rivals Spurs outpace them in goal difference. Defeat this weekend is unthinkable; it would leave the Gunners 8 points adrift of Leicester with 12 games to go, denting (to put it mildly) their chances of recapturing the title. Luckily for Wenger and co. (and perhaps doing disservice to Claudio Ranieri’s side) Spreadex are offering an Arsenal/Leicester Goal Supremacy spread of 0.75-0.95 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.75-2.95.

Things dip in importance as the day continues, with a continually frustrated Liverpool travelling to last place Aston Villa at 2.05pm on Sky Sports 1. The Reds really haven’t looked good in 2015; since the New Year began they have managed to lose to West Ham (twice, most recently in their FA Cup 4th round replay), Manchester United and Leicester, scrape a 3-3 draw against Arsenal and throwaway a 2-0 lead against Sunderland. Add onto that the ticket price scandal and Jurgen Klopp may be wishing he had stayed in the hospital a bit longer post-appendectomy.



It paints a stark picture that over the last 6 games Aston Villa, who have a measly 16 points, have been in better form than Liverpool. Remi Garde’s side managed a vital 2-0 over Norwich last weekend, following up on their recent win against Crystal Palace and draws against Leicester and West Brom. Yet Villa still remain 8 points away from escaping the relegation zone, and face an uphill battle on Sunday, with Spreadex offering a Liverpool/Aston Villa (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.55-0.75 with a Total Goals spread of 2.3-2.5.

Finally the weekend finishes on an ostensible high, with 2nd place Tottenham travelling to 4th place Manchester City at 4.15pm on Sky Sports 1. For all the chatter surrounding Leicester, Tottenham have been just as impressive, if slightly less surprising, this season. Since losing to the Foxes on the 13th January Spurs have won 5 in 5 league games, scoring 11 and conceding only 2. They even managed to beat Leicester in the FA Cup (well, after a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane), going on to spank Colchester United 54-1 in the 4th round.



City, on the other hand, still haven’t won 2 league games in a row since the 6-1/5-1 double whammy against Newcastle and Bournemouth back in October. Their most recent failing was that increasingly infamous 3-1 loss at home to Leicester; and whilst that may have been their first defeat since before Boxing Day, for every win against Sunderland (twice), Watford and Crystal Palace there was a draw against Leicester, Everton and West Ham. City will be aiming, however, for a swift recovery after last week’s mauling by the Foxes; our traders think so, at least, offering a Manchester City/Tottenham Goal Supremacy spread of 0.4-0.6 alongside an excitement-promising Total Goals spread of 2.8-3.

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